November Teens of the Month: Lydia Rushin and Sam Sutton

Sunday

Dec 1, 2013 at 12:01 AM

Her guilty pleasure is “Pretty Little Liars”; his is *Nsync. If elected president, she’d try to eliminate poverty; he’d limit the power of political parties. Her most recent proud moment was received a 2013 Person of Character award; his is being named captain of his cross country team. She’s a Golden Eagle; he is a Polar Bear. Here’s the November Teens of the Month, Lydia Rushin and Sam Sutton.

Her guilty pleasure is “Pretty Little Liars”; his is *Nsync. If elected president, she’d try to eliminate poverty; he’d limit the power of political parties. Her most recent proud moment was received a 2013 Person of Character award; his is being named captain of his cross country team. She’s a Golden Eagle; he is a Polar Bear. Here’s the November Teens of the Month, Lydia Rushin and Sam Sutton.

LYDIA RUSHIN

Parents: Michele Casler and Rodney Rushin

Age: 17

School: GlenOak High School

Favorite subject: Anatomy and Physiology

GPA: 4.3

Facebook Twitter or Instagram? Definitely Facebook. It allows me to stay connected with not only my family and friends here in the USA but also my friends in the Dominican Republic and Nigeria!

Device you can’t live without: I could live without almost all my technology enabling devices, but I could not go a day without my agenda book. My planner is my life. It tells me where need to be and what I need to get done. We are best friends. Inseparable, actually.

What scares you the most about graduating high school? I’m excited to take the next step in my life. There so much life has to offer that I have yet to experience. I am most nervous about keeping in contact with all of the amazing people that I have grown so close to over the years. My close friends will always be there but it won’t be the same not seeing the same people everyday. I won’t get to walk down the GlenOak hallways and see all my favorite teachers greeting their student at their doors. After graduation what seems so habitual now, will be a memory. However, these memories I will truly cherish forever.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Ten years from now I will be well into my medical residency. It take approximately 12 to 13 years to become a Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon, so I have several more years of school to look forward to. I plan on completing most of my degree here in the states but I also plan studying in neighboring nations as well. I would love to attend a partnering medical school in either Caribbean or Australia. This allows me to interact with people from all walks of life while getting my degree.

Complete this sentence: Most people would be surprised to know that I ... : Skeet shoot! Not many people even know what that is. Almost every free weekend that I have during the summer my whole family gets together and shoots little clay disks out of the sky with shot guns! It’s always a great time.

You were just handed a new car with a full tank, where are you going? If I were given a new car with a full tank of gas I’d go on a long road trip. I would grab my closest friends and we’d be off on an amazing adventure! I would first go to New York City. I love the city, it’s my home away from home. After some time there I would go wherever anyone else wanted to go! I really want to go backpacking for a couple days in Colorado so maybe that could be a stop as well. Let just hope this tank of gas in renewable or I won’t be making it very far.

Favorite high school memory: My favorite memory in high school would definitely have to be my band trips. Last year we traveled to New York City. I had the time of my life. The whole GlenOak marching band tackled the city together! We saw the Rockettes, The Phantom of the Opera and shopped on 5th Avenue for hours. There was never a dull moment. We all managed to make it through, what we referred to as, The GlenOak Marching Band Plague and the confusing subways.

What is the first thing you would do if you were elected president tomorrow? If I were elected president tomorrow, my first mission would be to eliminate poverty. This could be seen as very stereotypical, but I strongly believe it is possible. If we all band together and truly want to help our neighbor, anything can happen. “We can’t help everyone but everyone can help someone” — Ronald Reagan.

Tell us about a moment in the last year where you were particularly proud of something you accomplished. What was it and why were you proud? I just recently received a 2013 Person of Character Award through Character Counts in Stark County. It was an honor to not only myself, but also to my family and school. I was so proud and excited to have received this award! Even when I think about it now I get excited all over again.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received and who gave it to you? Never let anyone tell you, you can’t accomplish your dreams. Anything is possible if you believe you can achieve. You are a beautiful, smart individual who has the potential to be and do anything you want. My mother has always told me to live by this.

Pop music, classic rock or indie? Pop Music. It’s fun and up beat! I always sing in my car like no one can see me.

What is the biggest issue facing teens today? Fear of acceptance. So often teens are afraid to be themselves because they are afraid of what people will think of them. They are afraid of being judged.

Tell us a (clean) joke: What do you call a pig that knows karate? Answer: A pork chop.

Favorite hangout in Stark County: Downtown. I love going to First Friday! It so fun to see Canton sort of, “come to life.” Other then that Starbucks. Starbucks is so relaxing; I can do homework, have meetings, or hang out with friends.

Favorite TV show or movie: My favorite movie of all time is definitely “Save the Last Dance.”

Person you’d least like to be stranded on an island with: Kim Kardashian. Assuming this is a deserted island and there are no luxuries Kim Kardashian would be the worst person to be stranded with. I don’t think she would last very long, she’d self-destruct for sure. There are no golden toilet seats in nature Kimmy.

Food that grosses me out: Artichokes! I hate artichokes, nothing about it is appealing! Smells like dirty socks.

First thing you would buy if you won the lottery: The first thing I would do is put enough money away for my brother and my college education. College is so important to me! I would want the both of us to go to whatever school we have always dreamed of without having to worry about the financial aspect of it. We then could truly enjoy all of what college has to offer and not be faced with thousands of dollars in student debt.

HONORS AND AWARDS: Academic letter (four years), marching band letter (four years), Award of Fairness, Award of Caring, Stark County Family “Teen Court” scholarship, Stark County Person of Character award, student of the month.

SAM SUTTON

Parents: John and Julie Sutton

Age: 17

School: Jackson

Favorite subject: English

GPA: 4.6 currently, 5.0 cumulative

Facebook Twitter or Instagram? Twitter

Device you can’t live without: Microwave

What scares you the most about graduating high school? Having to get an actual full-time job and settle down.

Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Somewhere way warmer than Ohio

Complete this sentence: Most people would be surprised to know that I ... : Sing really loud when I drive

You were just handed a new car with a full tank, where are you going? Grand Teton National Park

Favorite high school memory: Painting up for the regional cross country meet (all three times).

What is the first thing you would do if you were elected president tomorrow? Limit the power of political parties.

Tell us about a moment in the last year where you were particularly proud of something you accomplished. What was it and why were you proud? I was particularly proud of being named a captain on the cross country team, since a lot of people I’ve looked up to and been friends with have held the same position, and being one was really important to me.

What is the best advice you’ve ever received and who gave it to you? My dad taught me never to let past failures affect what I do in the future

Pop music, classic rock or indie? Like them all, but if it came down to it, classic rock.

What is the biggest issue facing teens today? Increasing difficulties when it comes to college (tougher admissions and higher tuitions).

Tell us a (clean) joke: A blind man walks into a bar. He’s taken to the hospital and immediately treated for a concussion. (It was a metal bar).

Favorite hangout in Stark County: Food court at the Belden Village Mall